Door construction



March 9 1926.

J. G. DEH'Z DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 4a, -1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z Z1 l ZZ i i fcf INVENTOR :I G ea,

ATTORNEYS March 9 1926.

1,576,098 J. G. DEITZ DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed oct. 8 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

Y UNITED STATE-s Paar Felice.

DOOR CONSTRUCTION.

Application lled October e, 1924. Serial No. 742,463.

To @ZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN G. Dnirz, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in vDoor Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to door constructions of the type having a door mounted to move laterally edgewise between open and closed positions, more particularly to `a door construction for show cases, cabinets, and like structures, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrange- -ments herein described and claimed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a door construction of the character described having a door urged continuously toward closed position. I

A further object of the invention is the provision of a door construction of the chary acter described having simple, reliable and eflicient means adapted to act automatically on the. moving door of the construction to fully open position to releasably hold the door against moving toward closed position.k

A still further object of 'the invention is the provision of a door vconstruction ofthe character described having a door mounted to move anti-frictionally at a` substantially uniform speed toward closed position.`

A still further object of the invention is the provision of yielding means for cushioning the movement of the door immediately before the latter'reaches fully closed position and for frictionally holding the door in fully closed position. v l

@ther objects and advantages will be apparent from `the following description,

structural elements of the cabinet being` broken away and other portions beingA shown in section, d y Y I Figure 2 vis a fragmentary vertical section substantially along` the line 2 2 of Figure l,

Figure 8 1s a view similar to Figure 2, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure l, i A l y Figure l is a 'perspective view of the lower or bottom frame `member of the mounting hibitedin Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a showing a modified form of door-way construction, Y

Figure 6 is a section substantially on .the line 6-'6 of Figure 5, and

for a door in the ydoorway7 `construction .eX-'V Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective Also it sometimes is desirable that the doorsshall be kept closed in order that the temperature of the interior thereof may be kepthigher or lower than the temperature of the space in which the cabinet or show case having the door is located. When the door is left open for any appreciable time, `the temperature of the interior` of the cabinet or case having the door cannot be Ykept different from that of the surrounding space.

A door construction embodying the'invention ob'viates the objectionable features ordinarily encountered in door constructions now generally in use by providing a door and mounting therefor adapted to cooperate to cause the door to move automatically to closed position from any position other than fully open position.

In Figure l, l show the front wall of a cabinet or other structure having two substantially'l rectangular openings located in side by side relation, eac-h ot' the 'openings being defined by a,V horizontal upper framemem'ber l, a horizontal loaver frame. mem- 4ber 2, a vertical'. end member 3, and a second vertical frame `member 4, the latter being common to the two openings. rAlso, the lower frame members 2 may beport-io'ns of t-he same member ofthe cabinet or like structure as may both the upper frame members 1.

A pair of cooperative lateral edgewise doors 5 and G resp-ectivelyis provided for view similar 'toFigure each of the openings just mentioned. Each door 5 or 6 has a? width slightly greater than half the width of the opening in which it is disposed so that the doors 5 and 6 will overlap when the door 5 is in abutting relation at one side edge with the frame member 3, and the door 6 is in abutting relation at one Vside edge with the frame member 4.

The bottom frame member 2 is formed to provide a pair of oppositely inclined juxtaposed tracks 7 and 8 respectively, the incli-Y nation of each of these tracks from the hori- Zontal being uniform from one end thereof to its opposite end and the same for both of the tracks( The track 7 extends for half its length as the bottom of a groove 9 in the upper side of the lower frame member 2 and the track 8 likewise extends for half its length as the bottom of a groove 10 inlthe upper face of the lower frame member 2. The tracks 7 and 8 lboth extend the full width of the opening which is partially defined by the lower frame member 2.I

The top frame member 1 is provided with a'channel 11 in its lower face which is .located directly above the track 7 and with a channel 12 which is located directly above v the t-rack 8. The channels 11 and 12 ext-end the full width of the opening which is partially defined by the top member 1. `The door 5 is adapted to moveflaterally edgewise with the upper edge portion thereof received in the channel 11 and with the lower edge portion thereof partially received in the groove 9, the door 5 being movably supported at its lower `end upon the track 7. The door 6 is adapted to move laterally edgewise on the track 8 with the upper edge portion thereof received lin the channel 12 and with the lower edge portion thereof partially received in the channel 10. The door 5 has the lower end wall thereof inclined as indicated at 13 to; correspond to the inclination of the track 7. The door 6 has the lower end wall thereof inclined to correspond to the inclination of the track 8 indicat'edas at 111. The doors 5 and 6 may be anti-frictionally supported for move-` ment on-the supporting tracks in any suitable known mann-er. For example, each of the tracks may have a rail in the form of a rib 15 and extending longitudinally thereof intermediate the widtlu of the track andy greater than the height of each of the doors so that each door will extend Vat its upper end nearly to the top wall of the channel 11 vor 12 .in which it is disposed when the door is supported on the higher half portion of its supporting track, or in other words, in open position. Then each door is supported on the lower half portion of its supporting track, the door will extend' into the channel 11 or 12whichis `located directly lthereabove, but of course will be; located at its upperend a considerable distance above the top wallof the channel 11 or 12 with which it is associated. v

The doors 5 and 6 are providedadjacent to their remote side edges with handles, as`

at 19 which can be grasped and manipulated conveniently to effect mov'ementof the doors from closed toopen position; Each of the rails 15. is formedwith a depression 2(),in`

the crown portion thereof adjacent tothe higher end of the track. "When either of Y the doors l5 or 6V has been moved up the inclined track upon which it is supported to fully open position, one of the `wheels 18 upon which'that door is rollingly sup` ported will engage with the depression 20 to releasablyhold the door against returning to closed position under the influence of gravity. However, asisoon as the door has been moved slightly toward closed position, the wheel 18 which `has been engagedwith the depression 2O will roll out of the depres-` sion 2O and the doorwill move by gravity down `the inclined track upon which' itis supported to fully closed position. A bumper 21 which is made of rubber or like material is secured at the lower end of each of the tracks 7 or 8 on the end member 3 or 4 in position to be engaged by `a door 5 or V6 at thetime the latter moves to `:fully closed position, thus obviating any jar or shock which might cause injuryto the door. The door is releasably held in fully closed position by a spring finger 22which has the form Ybest seen in Figurel, and is `secured at one end within a channel 11 or -12 to the upper wall of the channel, as at 22, so that thefree end of the spring finger presses downwardly on the upperend wall of the door with which it isV associated when that door has been moved to fully' closed position, thus not only aiding one of the bumpers 2l in,` cushioning the movement vof the door when lit reaches fully closed position, but

the tracks,

the doors will move to closed position automatically unless the door has been moved to fully open position, in which event the engagement of one of the wheels 13 with the depression o-n the rail of the supporting track will hold the door in fully open position until it has been moved manually ay short distance from fully open position.

The inclination of the lower end walls of.

ythe doors assures close contact of such doors# throughout their width with the supporting tracks so that no openings are left between the tracks and the lower ends of the doors, irrespective of the positions of the doors on A cross bar or rail 23 at the lower end of the cabinet entends between the vertical membersv 3 and l on the front face of the lower frame member 2 and conceals the tracks 7' and 8.

In the modification shown in Figure 5, a doorway is defined in a cabinet or like structure by a top frame member 25;, abottom frame member 26, and a pair of end frame members 27, The bottom frame'member 26 is formed to provide a. pair of oppositely inclined juxtaposed tracks 28 and 29, respectively, which are identical in essential re-v spects with the tracks 7 and 8 `which have been hereinbefore described. rIhe top frame member 25 is formed with a channel 3 0 in its lower face which is located directly above the track 28, and' with a channel 3l which is located above the track 29. Doors 32 and 33 respectively are adapted to move laterally edgewise in the door-way of the modification to control the latter. The door 32 has the lower end wall thereof inclined to correspond to the inclination of the track 28,"

and is of su'llicient height to extendl at its upper end into the chanel 3G when it is rollingly supported at its lower end upon the track 28 in a manner which will be presently described. Likewise the door 33' is of .sullicient height to vextend at its upper end into the channel 3l when itis rollinglyi supportedat its lower end upon the trac-k 29. Each of the doors 32 and 33 is formed of plate glass and hasfthe lower edge portion thereof provided with a wear resisting facing or shoe 3l of metal or other suite able material. A carriage is interposedl between. the facing 34;..ofcach ofthe doors 32 or 33 and the track with whichthat door isv Such carupper side of the lower frameV member 26, the side walls of that groove will serve as stops for preventing displacement of the carriage which is partly disposed in that groove from the longitudinal median por tion of the track on which the carriage is supported.

Each of the end members 27 carries a bumper 38 which may be made of felt or lik-e material, and is located at the lower end of one vof the tracks 28 or 29 for engaging withv the door which is supported on that track when the door is in ful-.ly closed position. Each door may be releasably held in fully open positionA by a lspring latching member 39- which comprises a strip of spring vmaterial attached at one end to the upper' wallfof a channel or 3l, as at L 'i-O., and

has the free end portionv thereof bent into a half loop as indicated at ll for engaging with a depression 42 in the upper wall' of the associated'v door when the latter is in fully open position.V Thefloop portion 41 or the spring latching member is 'located directly beneath a 'depression `t3 in the upper wall of the channelBO or el. in which the vspring latching member is disposed so that when the door is actuated manually in such manner as to urge it from fully open position, the loopportion 41 of the spring latching member will move'upwardly into the recess t3 and' will then disengage the depression4l2, thus releasing the door so `that it will move by kgravity to fully closed position. f

Obviously, theinvention vis susceptible of embodiment in forms otherthan those which lraverbeen illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and* I therefore consideras my own allsuch modifications and adaptations thereof which fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I 'I claim 1 l'. In adoor construction, a framedetining an opening and comprising a horizontal. top member and a stationary bottom member having an. inclined-track at the upper side thereof, said'top member having a channel formed in its ylower side directly above said track, anda door slidable on sai'd stationary l inclined track to and from position to close said opening, the lowerl edge of the door beingl inclined to correspond to the inclination of the track. the upper edge ofthe door being horizontal, and the upper edge portion ofthe door extending into the channel. in saidtop frame member.

v2. In a 'door construction. a frame defining an opening and comprising a horizontal top member and a stationary bottom member having an inclined track at the upper side thereof", said'top member having a channel formed in its lower side directly abovesaid track, a door adapted to `move edgewise on said track to and from position to close said lil() CII ` tion ot the door extending into the channel in said top `frame member, and anti-frictionV means at the lower edge of the door inovably supporting the door on the track.

3. In a door construction, a traine defining an opening and comprising' a horizontal top V,member and astationary bottoni member having an inclined track at the upper side thereot', said top` member having a channel formed in its lower side directly above said track, and a door slidable on said stationary inclined track to and from position to close said opening, the lower edge vof the door being inclined to correspond to the inclination of the track, the upper edge of the door being horizontal, the upper edge portion of` the door extending into thechannel in said top vframe member, and guide means carried by said frame and engaging with the upper end portion of the door to prevent displacement ot' the door from said track.V

4. In a door construction, a frame deining an opening and comprising a horizontal top member and a stationary bottom member having an inclined track` at the upper side thereof, said top member having a channel termed in its lower side directly above said track, and a door slidable on said stationary inclined track to and from position to close said opening, the lower edge oit the door being inclined to correspond to the inclination of the track, the upper edge ot the doorbeing horizontal, the upper edge portion of the door extending into the channel in said top trame member, cooperative a horizontal upper frame member, a horizontal lower frame member` and a pair of spaced vertical trame members extending between said horizontal frame members and cooperating with the latter to define an opening, said lower traine member being formed to provide a pair of juxtaposed oppositelyinclined tracks on its upper side, each extending the full width ot the opening, said upper frame member being formed .to provide a pair of juxtaposed channelsin its lower side, one located directly above one of said tracks and the other located directly above the other track, and a pair of cooperative edgewise laterally7 movable doors for controlling said opening, one of said doors being movably supported on one ot said tracks and the other door being movably supported onthe -other track, each oit said doors extending into the channel above the track on which the door is supported and at least one ot horizontal lower trame member and a'pair olf l. spaced vertical j frame members extending between said horizontal frame members and cooperating with the latter to define an opening, i said lower frame member being torined to provide a pair of juxtaposed oppositely inclined trackson its upper side. each extending the full width of the opening, said upper frainemeniber being formed to provide a pair ork juxtaposed channels inv its lowerV side, one located directly above one ot said tracks andthe other located directly above the other track, and a pair of cooperative edgewise laterally movable doors for controlling said opening, each ot said tracks havingthe lower half portion thereof formed as the bottom ota channel in the upper Jface of the'n lower frame member, a

rail on each `et said tracks, each of said rails having a depression in the crown por-r tion -thereof adjacent to the highest point j on the rail, and wheels supporting said doors on said rails so that the doors extend at their upper ends into the channels in the upper frame member, one ofthe supporting wheels of each door being adapted to engage with the depression in the supporting rail when the door is in fully open position to releasably hold the door against `return movement toward closed position.

7. In a door construction for a show case, cabinet or like structure, a frame comprising a horizontal upper traine member, a horizontal vertical frame meinberrand a pair of spaced vertical lframe members extending between saidv horizontal frame members and cooperating with the latter to define an opening, said lowerl Jframe member being formed to provide a pair of juxtaposed oppositely inclined `tracks on its upper side,

each extending the full width ofthe opening, said upper frame inemberl` being formed to provide a pair of juxtaposed channels in its lower side, one located directly above one of said tracks and the other located directly' above the other track, and a pair of cooperative edgewise laterally movable doors for controlling said opening, one of said doors being movably supported on one of said tracks and the other doorbeing movably supported on the other track, each of said doors extending into the channel above the track on whichthe door is supported and at least one ofthe. doors having a width greater than halt the width of the opening, each of said doors being inclined at its lower end to correspond to. the inclination ot the track on which it is supported.

JOHN errLiiu niarrz,

ico 

